Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. In more than 160 countries worldwide, approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 31,256 Rotary clubs.

Rotary club membership represents a cross-section of the community's business and professional men and women. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.

The main objective of Rotary is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development. The Rotary motto is Service Above Self.

Although Rotary clubs develop autonomous service programs, all Rotarians worldwide are united in a campaign for the global eradication of polio. In the 1980s, Rotarians raised US$240 million to immunize the children of the world; by 2005, Rotary's centenary year and the target date for the certification of a polio-free world, the PolioPlus program will have contributed US$500 million to this cause. In addition, Rotary has provided an army of volunteers to promote and assist at national immunization days in polio-endemic countries around the world.

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is a not-for-profit corporation that promotes world understanding through international humanitarian service programs and educational and cultural exchanges. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and others who share its vision of a better world. Since 1947, the Foundation has awarded more than US$1.1 billion in humanitarian and educational grants, which are initiated and administered by local Rotary clubs and districts.

The Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs.

The Foundation's Humanitarian Programs fund international Rotary club and district projects to improve the quality of life, providing health care, clean water, food, education, and other essential needs primarily in the developing world. One of the major Humanitarian Programs is PolioPlus, which seeks to eradicate the polio virus worldwide. Through its Educational Programs, the Foundation provides funding for some 1,200 students to study abroad each year. Grants are also awarded to university teachers to teach in developing countries and for exchanges of business and professional people. Former participants in the Foundation's programs have the opportunity to continue their affiliation with Rotary as Foundation Alumni. The Rotary Foundation is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. Included in this section is information pertaining to the history of The Rotary Foundation, its financial support, its Alumni programs, training and resources, and the SHARE system.

How can YOU become a member of Rotary?

Membership in the Oregon City Rotary Club is open to people of good character and reputation who are proprietors, partners, corporate officers or managers or are in an executive position with discretionary authority or are local agents or branch representatives having discretionary authority and who can meet the attendance requirements and participate in the activities of the club. If you are interested in membership please contact one of our members or click on the "contact us" at the bottom right corner of the page.

Why should YOU join Rotary?

Lots of reasons. To join local business leaders in a fellowship of community service. To develop your personal skills by working with other leaders. To meet and enjoy the friendship of service oriented people. We are a service club formed in 1950. We are 130 strong and growing. Growing in membership and service to our community and to others in need throughout the Rotary world.

We are looking for a few good men and women to join one hundred and thirty souls united in service and fellowship under the Rotary banner. You can be part of making a difference in your local community and in our world. Do you consider yourself to have good business ethics? Do you see yourself associating with people of good character from other worthy occupations in a common effort to promote good business practices and instill the same in today's youth? Or, maybe you have a yen to make a difference in a bigger arena, say work for world peace or travel to a foreign country on a humanitarian project. Maybe you see yourself as a good will ambassador. We can help you fulfill these dreams.

We are looking for new hands to help, new ideas for service projects and new hearts to care. There are lots of things to do and bigger things in the works. We are looking for leaders, owners, managers, professionals, you name it . . . . who are serious about giving something back to their community and don't mind having a good time doing it.

If you're the type of individual we are looking for, contact us and we'll arrange for you to attend a club meeting and learn more about us and all we do. Contact us at the Email indicated below and someone will get in touch with you. Meanwhile, take some time to browse our web site to learn all about us. We think you'll be pleasantly surprised.